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University president makes announcement on undocumented students

University president Fr. John Jenkins released a statement Tuesday in support of Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students at Notre Dame.

“I was encouraged to learn today that Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly will continue to respect Obama-era protections for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children,” he said in the statement. “They include DACA students who have been admitted to Notre Dame, thrived here and whom the University fully supports.”

Jenkins also expressed concern that undocumented community members who are not protected by DACA will not be afforded the same respect.

“We welcome this development, yet remain concerned that other undocumented members of our communities are treated fairly and compassionately,” he said. “We call on our leaders to recognize that, throughout our nation’s history, immigrants have immeasurably enriched us culturally and have been the lifeblood of our economic vitality.”

Jenkins’s statement comes two weeks after he announced in a letter to faculty senate that he will not designate Notre Dame a sanctuary campus.